Alien
Mexican buckeye
Ungnadia speciosa
From a distance the plants in full flower resemble redbuds or peaches. Livestock seldom browse the toxic foliage, but bees produce fragrant honey from the flowers. Although not a true buckeye, it is so called because of the similar large capsules and seeds. This distinct plant, alone in its genus, commemorates Baron Ferdinand von Ungnad, Austrian ambassador at Constantinople, who introduced the Horse chestnut into western Europe in 1576. The fruit is a light reddish brown when ripe. The three-lobed capsule contains one to three dark brown to black, shiny seeds 1/2 inch in diameter. The sweetish but poisonous seeds are sometimes used by children as marbles.
Liberty Hill
Fort Hood, Texas
18 July 2009
Uploaded on July 21, 2009